Bath to play Seward in Doty title game today

PRATTSBURGH — Bath Haverling will take on S.S. Seward in today’s championship game of the George and Evelyn Doty Christmas Tournament at Prattsburgh Central School.

The Rams (4-4) defeated Naples 48-34 in the first semifinal on Thursday, followed by S.S. Seward’s 61-47 defeat of host Prattsburgh in the second semifinal game.

Haverling got off to a slow start, but got back in contention and used a 17-6 run in the fourth quarter to pull away. Ryan Ross led the Rams with an 18-point, 15-rebound double-double, while Will Van Amberg scored 17 points and Matt Socola hit three 3-pointers for nine points. Naples was led by Tyler Holton’s 11 points.

“We only had three points at the end of the first quarter. The fourth quarter is when we got out our slump and started playing,” said Bath coach Bryan Dyring, who only had six players in uniform. “To fight through it and persevere was a great sign for us.”

The second semifinal of the night saw S.S. Seward, from south of Middletown, shake off a rough second quarter and a two-point halftime deficit with a 16-5 third quarter to blow open the game.

Seward was led by 17 points apiece from Nelson Fernandez and Marquis Gonzalez, while Dan Collins scored 14 points. Leading Prattsburgh (2-5) was Kyle Putnam and Cameron Baird, who each netted 13 points, and Phillip Derrick scored 10 points.

Prattsburgh and Naples will play in the 5:30 p.m. consolation game, followed by Bath and Seward at 7 p.m.